Aerosol valve



AE afn? Aug. H5, i960 w, J. RAEHs ETAL AEROSOL VALVE Filed Jan. 7, 1958 INVENTORJ: WILHELM IRA EHSq//Ml/S RA UC HMA//f/ United States Patent AERSOL VALVE Wilhelm Josef Raehs and I-Ians Rauchmann, both of Neustrasse 26, Stolberg, Rhineland, Germany Filed Jan. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 707,622 Claims priority, application 'Germany Jan. 8, 1957 1'3 Claims. (Cl. Z39-579) This invention relates to a new and improved valve for use with aerosol containers and cans.

The marketing of various products in cansor containers under pressure with a propellant gas such as an inert gas so that the same may be automatically discharged in a pressurized spray or stream has become widespread.

The so called aerosol containers for these products are generally provided with a valve which is; biased closed by a spring, and forced open by manual operation, as for example, by finger pressure. Due to the required dimensions for the valve, and in particular, the valve body and valve seat, the pressure acting on Ithe valve, i.e., the pressure of the propellant gases of the aerosol prod- -uct are not sufficient to force and maintain the valve closed and in all cases, the spring is absolutely necessary to eifect Athe closing actuation and to maint-ain the valve sealed. Furthermore, in the conventional aerosol valve, the distance from the valve seal to Ithe outlet opening of the container is relatively long which may interfere with the quality of the spray produced.

One object of this invention is a novel aerosol valve construction which may solely -rely on the pressure of the propellant for the closing and sealing actuation.,

A further object of this invention is an aerosol valve which may be manufactured much more cheaply than the conventional aerosol valve.

A still further object of this invention is an aerosol valve in which the path from the valve seal to the outlet opening is relatively small, whereby a good spray effect is obtained.

These, and still further objects will become apparent from the Ifollowing description read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is Va vertical section of an `embodiment of an aerosol valve, in accordance with the invention, positioned in place on an |aerosol container, the container being partially shown,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the valve shown in Fig. l in its closed position,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the valve shown in Fig. 1 in open position, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of -a further embodiment of an aerosol valve, in accordance with the invention, positioned in place on -an aerosol container neck.

The aerosol valve, in accordance with the invention,

comprises a stationary valve body, a movable valve seat,

which is positioned for sealing engagement with the valve body and which may be manually Iactuated out of sealing engagement with the valve body Iand a movable diaphragm connected to the valve seat and positioned to be acted on by the pressure inran aerosol container to which the valve is attached to resiliently force the valve seatY in sealing engagement with the valve body.

The valve, preferably is in the form of a hollow body, having a resilient wall portion defining a diaphragm, with a valve seat connected thereto as, for example, defined on a neck, forming an extension of the body. A11 outlet ice passage is dened Kfrom the interior of the hollow body through the valve seat and a valve body, such as a valve cone is positioned on a valve stem extending through the hollow body for sealing engagement with the valve seat. In operation, the valve seat may be manually moved out of sealing engagement with the valve body against the fluid pressure in the interior of said hollow body, as for example, by finger pressure applied to a cap positioned on the neck which define-s the valve seat.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 3 of the drawing, 1 represents a container or can which contains the aerosol product with the pressurized propellant gas. The aerosol valve is positioned in the neck portion 2 of the container. The valve consists of a hollow valve body preferably for-med of a flexible synthetic resin such as a polyamide, polyethylene or the like and having a lower section designated 3, and an upper section, designated 4. The lower` Section has a cylindrical portion 3a and `a conically narrowing portion 3b. The upper portion has a cylindrical wall portion 4a and an elongated cylindrical, slightly tapering neck 4b which defines, at its upper end, the conical valve seat. The neck portion 4b is connected to the cylindrical wall portion 4a by means of a resilient upper wall portion 8 which forms a diaphragm.

The lower portion of the section 3 has a cylindrical tubular extension 15 -to :which the hose or dip tube 16 is connected. A passage 9, communicates the interior of the hollow body 3 -4 with the interior of the connection 115. A stationary valve stem 5 is connected to the bottom portion 14 of the section 3 and extends upwardly through the hollow interior of the body and through the neck 4b. Positioned at the end of the valve stem 5 is the conical valve body 6 which is in sealing engagement with the valve seat defined at the end of the neck portion 4b. The hollow body 3 4 is firmly seated in sealing engagement with the container neck 2 with the lower conical portion 3b and cylindrical portion 3a of the body 3 pressed in contact with the neck and with the upper end of the neck flanged over the hollow body at 1b. Additionally, a metal cap 17 may 4be provided to hold the body in place and reinforce the neck portion of the container. l

In operation, pressure in the interior of the container 1 is communicated through the interior of the dip tube =16, connection 15 and the passage 9 to the interior of the hollow body 3--4. 'Ihis pressure acts on the diaphragm 8 forcing the same and the neck 4b upward so that the valve seat at the end of the neck is iirmly pressed in sealing conttact with the conical valve body 6.

When it is desired to open the valve to discharge and spray the contents from the container, the topy of the cap 7 is pressed, as :for example, with yartinger, forcing the neck portion 4b downwardly with an inward flexing of the diaphragm S against the pressure in the interior of the hollow body 3-4. The yforcing downwardly of the neck portion 4b moves the valve seat at the end thereof away from the conical valve body 6 so that the valve is opened and contents of the aerosol container by means ofthe pressure of the propellant will be forced up through the dip tube 16, the interior of the connection 15, the interior of the hollow body 3 4, the neck 4b, pastvthe valve seat through the hollow passageway '-11, the nozzle 13 `and same is sprayed through the discharge opening 12. The downward movement of the neck 4b and valve seat at the end thereof, is limited by the projection 10 Icoming in contact with the top` of the conical valve body 6 as is shown in Fig. 3 which depics the valve in the open position.

As soon as the pressure on the cap`7 is relieved, propellant pressure on the diaphragm 8 will immediately again force the valve to the closed position as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The diaphragm-S can Vbe increased in size as desired so that the closure pressure acting on the valve through the diaphragm 8 maybe made as large as desired withont the necessity of a spring. In special cases, however, a spring may also be employed, lbeing positioned, for example, between the diaphragm and the bottom 14 of the body portion 3.

rEhe valve, i.e., the conical valve body 6 and the engaging valve seat, is positioned close to the nozzle 13 and outlet opening `12, and the passage 11 which is annularly shaped due -to the projection 1G, provides an eddying of the flow stream emerging therethrough, so that excellent atomization maybe obtained at the outlet opening i rhe embodiment as shown in Fig. 4 is identical in construction and operation except in the manner in which the body 4 is secured to the neck of the container.

As she-wn, the portion 4 of the hollow body may be provided with an annular ange `18 and cylindrical collar 19". The outer sunface of the cylindrical collar 19 is pressed in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the cylindrical neck of the aerosol container and the flange ES and collar 19 may be provided with a rigid closure piece 2l. which fits in an annular recess 20 in the section 4 of the hollow body. The upper end of the CTL collar 19 and closure piece 21 may be clinched in place at @a as shown inthe left hand part of Fig. 4 or ilanged in place as shown at b in the right hand part of Fig. 4. rthe closure part 2i should be rigid enough and secured in place so that the pressure in the container does not cause movement of the same or the hollow valve body and only acts upon the diaphragm.

The construction, in accordance with the invention, provides a great savings` in manufacturing costs, the manufacturing costs being only about one-tenth to one-fifth of the manufacturing costs of the conventional aerosol valve. Furthermore, the construction allows a better spray effect to be obtained and in eliminating the need for the spring, not only is the cost thereof avoided, but failure caused by corrosion of the spring by the aerosol product is eliminated. By suitable adjustment of the diaphragm 8 without the use of the spring, it is possible to make the valve closure pressure as large as desired.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown, various changes and modifications become apparent to the skilled artisan which fall within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. An aerosol valve comprising a hollow body having a resilient wall portion defining a diaphragm, a valve seat connected to said diaphragm for movement therewith and `defining an outlet passage from the interior of said hollow body, a stationary valve stem extending through the interior of said body and outlet passage, a valve body on said valve stem positioned for sealing engagement with said valve scat said valve stem'being fixed to said hollow-body, an inlet passage to the interior of said hollowed body yfor ow and pressure communication with the interior of the container in connection with which the valve is used, andv means for moving said valve seat out of sealing engagement with said valve body against uid pressure in the inte-rior of said hollow body. Y

2 Aerosol valve according to claim '1, in which said last mentioned means is means for manually depressing said valve seat. Y

3. Aerosol valve, according to claim 2, in which said valve seat is delined on a neck, forming an extension of said body and in which said `last mentioned lmeans includes a cap positioned on said neck whereby depression of said cap operates said valve.

4. Aerosol valve according to claim 3, in which said cap denes a passage in communication with said valve seat terminating as a spray nozzle.

5. Aerosol valve according to claim 4, in which said cap delines a projection in said passage positioned for engagement with said valve body to limit movement of said valve seat.

6. Aerosol valve according to claim l, in which said .valve body is a conical valve body, narrowing in the direction toward the interior of said hollow body and in which said valve seat is a conical valve seat widening in the direction away from the interior of said hollow body.

7. Aerosol valve according to claim 1, in which said hollow body has a `substantially cylindrical wall portion.

8. Aerosol valve according to claim 7, in which said cylindrical wall portion narrows conically at its lower portion, and including an aerosol cylinder having a neck portion in sealing engagement with said cylindrical and conical portion `of said hollow body.

9. Aerosol valve according to claim l, in which said hollow valve body is provided with an annular ange and a substantially cylindrical collar.

l0. Aerosol valve according to claim 9, including a substantially rigid closure cap tting said annular ange and cylindrical collar and adapted to be bent at its free end in engagement with the edge of a neck of `an aerosol container.

ll. Aerosol valve according to claim l0, in which said hollow body has an outer wall portion and in which said substantially rigid cap lits in an annular recess defined in said outer wall.

l2. An aerosol valve comprising a hollow valve body defining a lower and upper section, said upper section defining a cylindrical wall portion and an elongated tapering neck portion said portion dening at its upper end a conical valve seat, the said neck and cylindrical Wall portion being connected by a resilient Wall portion defining a diaphragm, a stationary valve stem extending through the interior of said body, a valve body on said valve stem positioned for sealing engagement with said valve seat, said valve stem being lixed to said hollow body, inlet passage to the interior of said hollow body in flow and pressure communication with the interior of the container in connection with which the valve is used, and means for moving said valve out of sealing engagement with said valve body against fluid pressure in the interior of said hollow body.

13. An aerosol valve comprising a fixed stationary valve body, a valve seat defining an outlet passage for the contents of an aerosol container to'which the valve is attached, said valve seat being positioned in sealing engageme'nt with said valve-body and movable `in relationship to said valve body for movement upon manual actuation to a position in spaced relationship to said body, and a movable diaphragm :connected for movement with said valve seat, dimensioned `and positioned to be acted upon by the pressure in an aerosol container towhich the valve is attached, to resiliently force the valve seat into sealing engagement with the valve body.

l References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,669,568 McGee May 15, 1928 2,127,892 AStewart Aug. 23, 1938 2,376,383 Richards May 22, 1945 2,681,752 Jarett June 22, 1954 2,835,418 j Manent May 20, s 'Y y VFOREGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 30, 1936 

